How winning the MVP Xero award helped Mark Telford support accountants to deliver more for their clients

A portrait of Mark Telford of Telford Accountants on a blue background with the Xero logo
Mark Telford Winner of the Xero Most Valuable Professional award 2018

 

As the owner of Telfords Chartered Accountants, I’m passionate about giving small businesses the right financial advice. I’ve collected a number of Xero certifications and am proud to display my Making Tax Digital ready badge on my advisor directory listing.

What’s more, I like to give regular feedback on new and existing Xero products. This helps Xero ensure they’re making good products even better. I also give other accountants advice on how to use Xero.

I have an unwavering commitment to Xero. That’s why it was so great to pick up last year’s Most Valued Professional (MVP) award at Xerocon London 2018 – a moment that was one of my proudest as a business owner. It was a welcome recognition of what I do in trying to improve the level of support accountants provide to small businesses.

Full length image of Mark Telford with Steve Vamos and Gary Turner of Xero at Xerocon London 2018
Mark Telford with Xero CEO Steve Vamos and UK and EMEA MD Gary Turner at Xerocon London 2018

Five-star client service

When I started out, I searched for accounting software that would give me direct access to client information, without having to wait for backups, spreadsheets or paper records. I decided to adopt Xero early on and am now a Xero Silver partner.

I focus a lot of time on making sure our systems and processes are slick and efficient. By deciding to choose only one accounting software product, we’re able to give clients clear advice and support on how to use it. It also makes it easy when starting to work with a new client or training new team members.

Using Xero means that when I find a new way of applying the software to one client, I can quickly identify which other clients could also benefit from it. I can then roll out the same solution to them instantly.

Making a great product even better

I was “on cloud nine” for the week after winning the Xero MVP award at Xerocon. For me, the biggest accolade was that it was recognition for the role I played in being part of the Xero community – and trying to make Xero even better.

I have always been frank in my opinions on how Xero can be better. This includes the services accountants should be providing to their clients, what the software should enable accountants to do, and where the software is great or lacking.

While I love Xero, I also recognise there’s some functionality which can be improved. I’ve tried to use my time as a member of Xero Partner Advisory Council (XPAC) and my experience of using the software, to make what is already an amazing product, even better.

Since winning the award, I have developed a second business focusing on coaching, mentoring and training other accountants to improve their own practices.

Winning the award can raise your profile amongst your peers and the wider business community. And it has helped Telfords to win new clients – because business owners using Xero are naturally attracted to accountants who have won awards with Xero!

I hope that by winning the MVP award, our clients will continue to benefit from a level of service that not only helps them run the finances of their businesses easily, conveniently and transparently. But also helps them to achieve their broader ambitions in life.